While I was at the Dada show last weekend, I went downstairs to see the paintings (specifically the Anselm Kiefer, and the Johns’ and I completely forgot about the room of Calder maquettes in the basement. I forgot how playful and engaging they really are in the smaller state – in particular – how much more I like them than the larger versions that seem to come with every public building in the world. So I spent a nice 25 minutes or so – looking at the work watching the shadows on the wall and just simply enjoyed them as the objects they are. It was really just a pleasant modernist thing to do, enjoying simple shapes and color.
So as I was leaving I was trying to figure out if I really wanted the Dada catalog (full disclosure: I have a bunch of Dada books already). Anyway, I spotted the recent catalog for Miro/Calder and started flipping through it and brought it home. Even though I will espouse the virtues of Dada all day long – sometimes you just want a little bit of light and joy – this exhibit and book really did the trick for me.
See the Calders at the National Gallery East Wing.
Buy the Calder Miro book just about anywhere (you could try this new place called Amazon.com)
Every time I head to the National Gallery, I make a point of stopping by the Calder exhibit. Did you visit the Calder-Miro exhibit at The Phillips Collection in 2004? The Phillips Collection always knocks my socks off. I also got to go to the Modigliani exhibit there last year. It was terrific.
I agree, the Phillips is great. I like the more casual attitude and I’m really looking forward to seeing the new galleries that open in a couple of months, evidently there is going to be a new Rothko room as well as space with taller walls to show the larger pieces they have (that no ones really knows about).
Thanks for the note.